The new definitive sentencing guideline for health and safety, food safety and corporate manslaughter (the ‘Guideline’) is starting to bite in the food sector, with significantly higher fines being seen across all sizes of business.

Prior to the implementation of this guideline, there was very limited guidance for the Courts regarding food safety and hygiene matters. In producing a guideline that covers food offences, the focus was on the most commonly prosecuted food safety breaches and those concerned with risks to health.

The Guideline is unquestionably a game changer in respect of how the criminal courts will now be required to sentence food safety offences and it makes uneasy reading for any business operating in the UK food sector. This article examines the implications for your business and what practical steps can be taken to guard against costly fines.

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